10 U23 Talents Lighting Up the Isthmian Premier League

The Isthmian Premier League has never been more competitive, blending seasoned pros, experienced veterans, and a growing crop of young talent eager to make their mark in a notoriously tough league. In such a challenging environment, standing out as an U23 player is no small feat, yet this season has seen several young stars rise to the occasion.

This article highlights ten of the league’s brightest talents aged 22 and under, players already making an impact and showing they could soon be moving further up the football pyramid. The following list is in no particular order.

Bryan Ifeanyi – 22 – Carshalton Athletic

One of the Isthmian Premier League’s most dangerous wingers, Ifeanyi plays with the confidence and composure of a player with a decade of non-league experience. Thriving in Peter Adeniyi’s expansive, free-flowing system, his pace and trickery are a constant headache for even the league’s most stubborn right-backs.

Carshalton aren’t shy about giving youngsters their chance, and Ifeanyi has taken it with both hands. His consistent, eye-catching performances and strong G/A output are sure to have caught the attention of clubs higher up the pyramid.

With six league goals already this season, he has already surpassed last year’s tally and looks set to continue tearing through defences at the War Memorial Sports Ground as Carshalton look to push up the division.

Sam Sene-Richardson – 18 – Chatham Town

A recent national headline-maker attracting interest from EFL clubs, Chatham academy graduate Sene-Richardson is arguably the league’s most exciting teenage talent.  The forward signed his first senior contract with the Chats on his 18th birthday this spring and has already notched six goals in all competitions, excelling in Kevin Hake’s attacking setup.

Sene-Richardson scored seven goals as a 17-year-old last season, and with Chatham’s move to a full-time programme over the summer, he and other young players have been given the perfect platform to accelerate their development.

In a league where teenagers can often struggle to find any consistent form, the forward is excelling in a side pushing for promotion, making a move up the football pyramid seem inevitable.

Olly Box – 20 – Dartford

One of the league’s most prolific young forwards, Box has already made a name for himself this season with 11 league goals, sitting second in the Isthmian Premier League scoring charts.

Equally comfortable out wide or through the middle, he combines pace with a sharp eye for goal, making him a constant threat in and around the penalty area. A product of the Dartford Academy, Box had already made 20 National League South appearances by the age of 18 and went on to score 14 goals in Dartford’s promotion near-miss last season.

Retaining him has been a key move by Adrian Pennock, and if Dartford are to mount another promotion challenge, Box will be central to their ambitions, a testament to his ability at such a young age.

Jayden Robinson – 18 – Aveley

Another teenage sensation, Robinson has enjoyed a breakout season at Step 3 under Brett Munyard at Parkside. The creative midfielder has been central to Aveley’s impressive unbeaten run, becoming a mainstay in midfield while contributing four goals in all competitions.

It’s rare to see a teenager hold his own in midfields stacked with seasoned Isthmian Premier players, but Robinson has done so with maturity and composure beyond his years. Robinson first broke through at Billericay, scoring for them at just 16, before earning a handful of league appearances the following season and flourishing at Brightlingsea Regent last term.

His form earned him a move to Parkside, and in a team stacked with Isthmian Premier winners, the young midfielder is in the ideal environment to continue his rapid development, with a career at higher levels looking very achievable.

Jesse Effa – 20 – Cheshunt

An exciting winger enjoying his first taste of Step 3 football, Effa has quickly become one of Cheshunt’s most dangerous attacking threats. With a dangerous combination of flair, pace, and a left foot capable of unlocking defences, he has contributed plenty of G/A for the Ambers so far this season.

A former Brentford youth player, Effa began his adventure into senior football just last season with Edgware and Kingsbury before stepping up to Step 4 with Hadley. Clips of him outsmarting defenders ten years his senior are easy to find, and despite Cheshunt’s recent dip in form, he has remained a regular starter, a consistency that will only accelerate his development.

Despite his age, Effa is the kind of player who gets fans off their seat and is likely catching the eye of scouts and managers from higher up the pyramid.

Max Fiddes – 19 – Canvey Island (loan from Dover Athletic)

With possibly the best goals-per-game ratio in the division, Fiddes has been Canvey Island’s shining star this season. The 19-year-old forward, on loan from Dover, has already scored seven times in ten league games, standing out in what has otherwise been a difficult campaign for the Essex side.

After a spell at Bowers & Pitsea last season, where he netted three goals in ten appearances for the relegated club, Fiddes has continued his scoring form at Step 3. His performances are sure to be catching the eye of Dover manager Jake Leberl, and his ability to shine in a struggling Canvey side signals a player with real promise.

If he maintains this form, a return to Step 2 football at the Crabble, or elsewhere, looks almost certain.

Luke May-Parrott – 22 – Hashtag United

Hashtag United blend experienced non-leaguers with exciting young talent, and May-Parrott firmly belongs to the latter group. The forward has thrived in Jay Devereux’s front-footed Tags side, performing with the confidence and impact of a player far more seasoned at Step 3.

His numbers are exceptional for a young player in a side that hasn’t consistently challenged at the top end of the table. In his first season at this level two years ago, he notched 16 goals and eight assists, following it up with 15 goals and eight assists last term. This season, he’s already scored six goals.

May-Parrott possesses a natural eye for goal, and 53 goal contributions in under three seasons is a remarkable return. He has quickly become central to Hashtag’s efforts to cement themselves as a mainstay in the Isthmian Premier League.

Teddy Collis – 21 – Billericay Town

A relatively new addition to Danny Scopes’ Billericay side, Collis has adapted brilliantly to Step 3 football. The tenacious forward can operate both off the flank or as a central striker, and he has already contributed three goals and three assists in eleven games for the Blues.

His season started at Step 2 with Farnborough, where he scored twice following an impressive spell at Brightlingsea Regent and Needham Market. Collis hit 31 goals and 15 assists for The R’s during 2023/24, before adding another 12 goals in 20 appearances the following season. A mid-season move to National League North side Needham Market saw him finish the campaign with a total of 16 goals and nine assists.

A player with genuine talent and a constant threat for any defence, Collis’ future looks brighter than ever, with his prolific record at multiple levels marking him out as one of the league’s most promising young forwards.

Isaac Bello – 20 – Chichester City

One of the more underrated talents on this list, Bello is a winger capable of lighting up any game for Miles Rutherford’s side. A traditional wide player with a huge 1v1 threat, he can terrify full-backs and unlock even the best defences in the division.

Bello scored nine goals last season as Chichester mounted a remarkable challenge for a play-off place. While he has only one goal so far this term, his overall contributions to a team hoping to push up the division remain impressive, providing pace, creativity, and moments of excitement for spectators at Oaklands Park.

A classic right-winger with bundles of trickery, Bello looks set for a bright future, and a move up the football pyramid would come as little surprise.

Ted Collins – 22 – Folkestone Invicta

No list of the league’s top young talent would be complete without a representative from the division leaders, and goalkeeper Ted Collins fits the bill perfectly. Arriving in the summer with 37 National League South appearances for Chelmsford City, he has seamlessly adapted to Jay Saunders’ side.

In a division often tough on young goalkeepers, Collins stands out, combining all the attributes of a modern #1 while shoring up a team dominating the league. With seven clean sheets in all competitions and just 17 goals conceded in 18 league games, he has been a crucial part of Folkestone’s title challenge.

Standing at 6’1, Collins is commanding in the air and confident with the ball at his feet, quickly staking his claim as one of the best keepers in the Isthmian Premier. With a season of Step 2 football already under his belt, a return to National League South with Folkestone seems well within reach.